What The Additions of Cliff Lee and Milton Bradley Mean For The Mariners

What an off season it's been for the Seattle Mariners and their general manager Jack
Zduriencik.

The Mariners, since the conclusion of the Winter Meetings in Indy have acquired Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee and OF Milton Bradley. At the Winter Meetings the Mariners and third baseman Chone Figgins came to terms on a four year, $32 million dollar contract with an option for a fifth year.

Now after reviewing the Chone Figgins signing I've moved on to reviewing the two recent acquisitions in Cliff Lee and Milton Bradley and what both mean for the Seattle Mariners in 2010.

Cliff Lee: 14-13, 3.22 ERA, 231 IP, 181 SO, 43 BB, 6 CG, 7 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 4.2 K/BB and a 1.24 WHIP.

Cliff Lee, a 2008 Cy Young award winner played in both the American and National League last season with the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies respectively.

In the AL Lee posted a 7-9 recorded with the Indians before being dealt in a five player trade to the Phillies.

In the National League Lee posted an astounding 7-4 record, which doesn't sound like much but when you break down all of his performances his record could have been 11-0.

With Lee now heading back the American League, in a pitchers friendly ballpark in Safeco Field there won't be any problems for the former Cy Young winner.

Lee dominated in a hitters ballpark in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia so with the defense in Seattle, added to the size of the ballpark there shouldn't be any problem for Lee.

The Mariners defense is all-star caliber with Ichiro and Franklin Gutierrez in the outfield and Chone Figgins, Jack Wilson and Jose Lopez in the infield Lee don’t have to worry about having a lackluster defense behind him.

One thing that Cliff Lee, as well as Milton Bradley doesn’t have to worry about is the press in Seattle. There is really on pressure unless for some bizarre reason the M's tank as bad as the Seahawks are right now.

Another added bonus for Lee is that when he was in Philadelphia he was their ACE and he was the man. In Seattle he's got the King in front of him in King Felix Hernandez who went 19-5 in 2008, and really had the better performance to win the Cy Young.

My prediction for Cliff Lee would be something along these lines: 18-20 wins, 2.35 ERA, 210 SO and maybe 240 IP.

I also think, which some people outside of Seattle will argue, that Cliff Lee will sign a long term deal in Seattle with the Mariners making the playoffs in 2010.

Milton Bradley: .257 avg, 12 HR's, 40 RBI's, .378 OBP, 61 R, 101 hits, 66 BB, 95 SO, .397 slugging percentage and a.775 OPS.

Bradley signed a three year $30 million dollar contract last year with the Chicago Cubs after coming off of one of his best seasons. Since the signing he's hated Chicago and the Cubs fans. Then again who wouldn't when the Cubs haven’t been in style since Gold was discovered in 1909.

Bradley never really fit in with the Cubs so trading him to the Seattle Mariners, who have a very supportive fan base, unless your name is Bill Bavasi or Carlos Silva as well as great team chemistry.

Throughout his career Bradley has always done better in the American League. Here is his AL/NL comparison in his career.

American League: 6 years, 450 games, 455 hits, 249 runs, 57 HR's, 230 RBI's, .294 BA, .390 OBP, .481 slugging percentage and a .871 OPS.

National League: 6 years, 491 games, 449 hits, 252 runs, 58 HR's, 209 RBI's, .263 BA, .353 OBP, .422 slugging percentage, and a .775 OPS.

As the stats show, Bradley has done better in the American League in 41 fewer games.

With Bradley being a switch hitter and playing DH and LF in 2010 I expect his numbers will be where they usually are in the AL.

.290 BA, 25-30 HR's and 95 RBI's. He'll hit in the 4-6 range in the lineup.

The major thing about both of these trades that brought Cliff Lee and Milton Bradley to Seattle is that the Mariners come out clear winners in both trades.

And Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said he's still not done. That's what scares me. What else is left for GMZ to do? Wait and see.

Wise Money: Mariners sign 3B Figgins to 4-year Deal

Around this time last year, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik pulled off his first big move when he pulled the trigger on a three team, 12 player deal which sent closer JJ Putz to the Mets and OF Franklin Gutierrez, Endy Chavez, Mike Carp and four others to Mariners.

With that move, his nickname became "trader Jack". Now this off season is an entirely new ball game.

Last off season Zduriencik didn't have a lot of money and flexibility to work with and plus he was just taking over. Now Zduriencik has around $50 million free to spend this off season, the most by any club.

Now Jack Zduriencik won't go mad with the amount of money he has available to him but he will use more than half of that on free agents and arbitration raises. Then there is also Felix Hernandez, who has been talking with Zduriencik about a long term contract.

Hernandez's agent, Alan Nero, has said there is no immediate hurry to sign Felix long term. S.I's Jon Heyman said Felix will most likely seek a contract in the neighborhood of six years and around $100 million.

If there is an off season when the Mariners should sign Hernandez long term it would be this off season. They just came off an incredible 21 game swing, Felix was a few games from winning the Cy Young and the Mariners have the money to spend.

Back on subject with the announcement that the Seattle Mariners have officially signed former LA Angles third baseman Chone Figgins to a four year, $36 million dollar contract. The contract also reportedly includes a vesting option in 2014 which could push the grand total to $45 million.

Right away this is a win-win signing for the Seattle Mariners and just keeps adding to the great resume of Jack Zduriencik.

Win one: The Mariners filled their hole a third base with an outstanding defensive player who also fits the offensive mold of speed and hitting without great power.

Win two: The Mariners strengthen their club while weakening division rival LA Angles. Figgings has been a great leadoff hitter for the Angles for two years straight. The only in-house replacement would be long time prospect Brandon Wood who is the anti Chone Figgins.

High strikeout total, below average defense and hits for power but not consistently.

Here is a Figgins-Wood comparison. (Wood's numbers are AAA).

Brandon Wood: 99 games, 113 hits, 22 HR, 65 runs, 72 RBI's, 36 BB and 80 SO. Indepth stats : BB% 8.5, SO% 20.7, .353 OBP and 4.0 speed.

Chone Figgins: 158 games, .298 BA, 183 hits, 5 HR, 114 runs, 54 RBI's, 101 BB and 114 SO. In-depth stats: BB% 14.1, SO% 18.5, .395 OBP and 6.7 speed.

The clear winner would be Chone Figgings.

Those stats, along with the personality of Figgings fits the Jack Zduriencik to a T. The price is just right at $36 million and he will fit great either in front of or behind right fielder Ichiro Suzuki in the Mariners lineup.

Look for Seattle's next move to be for either a starting pitcher like John Lackey or Rich Harden or a first baseman like Nick Johnson, Jason Bay or possibly Jermaine Dye if he goes low price.